Fiji Minister Radrodro rejects NFP claims on school campaign rules

Fiji's Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has pushed back against the National Federation Party (NFP), rejecting claims that his comments on political campaigns using school premises were misinterpreted. Radrodro stated that his remarks to The Fiji Times were taken out of context and that he was only referencing existing Ministry of Education policies.

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He says he was asked about political rallies being held on school premises and only referred to Ministry of Education policies requiring approval from the Permanent Secretary.

Radrodro clarified that his statements did not refer to Section 113 of the Fiji Electoral Act 2014, as previously reported. Instead, he pointed to Section 150(c) of the Electoral Act, which explicitly prohibits political campaigning on the grounds of educational institutions. This offense carries a potential penalty of a fine up to ten thousand dollars, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

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Radrodro says Iyer should first verify statements attributed to him before making public comments.

The Minister rejected the NFP General Secretary Kamal Iyer's characterization of his views as "warped," urging Iyer to verify statements before making public comments. Radrodro stressed that the Ministry of Education remains committed to protecting the political neutrality of schools and ensuring the well-being of students and teachers.

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The offence carries a fine of up to ten-thousand dollars, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

He reiterated that all political parties must operate on an equal footing and adhere strictly to Fiji's electoral laws until any amendments are made. Radrodro emphasized that the current law must be followed, underscoring the importance of respecting legal boundaries in political activities.

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Radrodro says all political parties must operate on an equal footing and respect Fiji’s electoral laws.